Start a PATH Intl. Center

How to Start a PATH Intl. Center

Starting an Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) Program

The idea of starting an equine-assisted activities and therapies program or opening a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) center can seem overwhelming at first, and many questions immediately come to mind. How will I fund it? What makes a good employee or volunteer? Where do I advertise? Thankfully, PATH Intl. has many resources available to help answer these questions, including instructional publications, a mentor program and online forums.

One of these great resources is the "How to Start an EAAT Center/Program" book, designed to give prospective PATH Intl. Member Centers an idea of the many facets involved in the planning stages of starting an EAAT program. The start-up book contains information about selecting equines, budgets, personnel, facilities, instructor certification and much more. In addition, the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification & Accreditation provides direction as you plan your center’s site and program activities according to PATH Intl.’s administrative, program and facility standards.

PATH Intl. strongly recommends that you do some networking with other existing PATH Intl. Centers in your region. Networking with other PATH Intl. Centers can offer valuable information not found in any book. You can access a list of PATH Intl. Centers on the "Find a Center" page. Contacting your PATH Intl. Region Representative can also be every helpful. Many Region Representatives are also center owners, directors or instructors who work in the field and have gained valuable experience and information that they can share with you.

Become a PATH Intl. Member Center

Center Members – organizations operating a program providing equine-assisted activities and therapies committed to PATH Intl.’s standards for safe, ethical and professional practices. See schedule based on center budget for annual dues.

Premier Accredited Centers – organizations operating a program providing equine-assisted activities and therapies that have voluntarily undergone a peer review process with trained volunteers that visit and evaluate centers’ programs in accordance with PATH Intl. standards. Click here for more information about the PATH Intl. Accreditation program. PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Centers pay annual center dues as well as $750 for the accreditation process spread over 5 years ($150 annually)

PATH Intl. offers the Foundation Directory Online, a searchable database of over 98,000 grantmakers available. Use this to find grants and funding sources that might support your program.

Benefits include one CD version of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation, use of the PATH Intl. Logo, discounts to PATH Intl. merchandise, discounts on liability insurance through PATH Intl. sponsors and much more. Click here to see a full list of benefits.

PATH Intl. Center Membership Requirements

Center Membership runs January 1st to December 31st. All centers are required to renew their center membership by December 31st each year regardless of their join date. New center members that join after the first month will pay a pro-rated dues amount for the first year of membership. Renewal dues are not pro-rated after the first year.

After one year of membership center members are eligible to participate in the PATH Intl. Accreditation program. Centers are not required to participate upon eligibility. Accreditation fees are not included in the fees shown; they are in addition to center dues.

All centers must have either a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor or an Instructor in Training (IT) prior to joining PATH Intl. as a Center Member. If your center does not have a PATH Intl. certified instructor or IT, you will be contacted by the PATH Intl. office. Use the Registered Booklet for a guide on becoming a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor.